(The following was contributed by Jeri Moon Lott and was written by Abinadi Tolman).
TOLMAN, ABINADI (BIN), was born 22nd of October, 1884, at Honeyville, Box Elder County, Utah. He was the son of Benjamin Hewitt Tolman and Eliza Bell Grant Tolman. He married Ellis Wirthlin 19 November, 1924, who was the daughter of Joseph and Emma Hillstead Wirthlin.
Abinadi (Bin) Tolman, I was so small the stork almost overlooked me. I was no kin to Esau, “Not a hair” and the only name that fitted the situation as Abinadi.
The fall of 1902, I was called to take a missionary course at the B.Y.C. at Logan, Utah, entering school in October and remained until the 13th of March, 1903. While there I received a remarkable testimony. After attending school for about three months I decided I must know whether this great Latter-day work was of God or of man. After two or three days of fasting I prayed very earnestly before retiring to my bed: “Oh God, is this thy work and was Joseph Smith thy prophet?” After 30 or 40 minutes of earnest supplication a power rested upon my back that warmed and thrilled my entire body. This was in January and the weather was around zero. I could stand but little cover on me during the entire night not from artificial heat. It was an actual power that warmed and thrilled my being for days. Forty-six years have passed since then and I have been in many lands and have had many wonderful experiences and testimonies – Testimonies that have just added upon the one I received that night: “That God lives and that His work will be accomplished on the earth and that a people will be prepared for His second coming.”
I left for the Southern States Mission that fall, 1903, and was assigned to labor in Mississippi conference. I was in the mission field just a year, being called home because father had met with a severe accident being burnt with electricity. Also my health was poor, having the chills and fever. Two years later I was called to fill a mission to the Netherlands. That mission comprised Holland and Belgium. I was assigned to labor in Belgium, laboring principally in the cities of Liege and Verviers. After about 6 months I was transferred to Switzerland on account of poor health. Serge Ballif, My uncle, was president of the Swiss-German mission and thought possibly my health would be better in the high mountains of Switzerland. After 6 months in Switzerland President Ballif released me as my health continued poorly.
A year after returning home I was sustained Superintendent of the Honeyville Sunday School with Peter and Weldon Hunsaker as counselors. After several years I was released and a little later was chosen Superintendent of the Y.M.M.I.A of Honeyville. I was chosen two and one half years later to be second counselor to Bishop Thomas Wheatley with James Madsen as first counselor. When Leo Hunsaker was made bishop I was called to be a high councilman, which I held for four years. During this time I met and married one of the fine daughters of Joseph Wirthlin, Ellis, 19 November, 1924, in the Salt Lake Temple. From this union we have three lovely daughters, Ona, Dawn, and Ila, and one handsome son, LeRoy A., who loves to eat.
June 1928 I was called to be Bishop of Honeyville, with Horace N. Hunsaker and H. Leo Madsen as counselors. We remained in office four and one half years. At present I am second counselor to President Ben C. Call of the High Priests Quorum of the North Box Elder Stake with Robert H. Stewart as first counselor.
I have done almost 1000 endowments for my kindred dead, have sung to hundreds of funerals – solos and duets, with my wife, Ellis and Mrs. Lavoy H. Charlson; have filled two home missions – third ward of Brigham City, and Bear River City.
These are the high lights of your humble servant – Abinadi Tolman.
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